“Half of my medical history is a mystery”

Why she got tested “I’m adopted, although I do know my biological mom and have learned my medical history on my maternal side from her. But I wanted to find out about my paternal side: I have a 9-year-old daughter; if we are predisposed to any disease, I want us both to avoid it by taking up healthy habits now. My feeling is, the devil you know is better than the one you don’t.”

What she learned “I was surprised to discover I’m a carrier for cystic fibrosis. My husband wasn’t tested, but an expert from the National Society of Genetic Counselors told me that if he was a carrier, there’s a one in four chance our daughter could be, too. [Unlike some other companies, 23andMe doesn’t offer genetic counseling.] I’ll keep an eye on her to see if she ever develops symptoms, and I’ll tell her she might be a carrier when she’s older and can better understand it. That was the big news; everything else I already knew.”